Student Ambassador, Your Event Career

What Will Event Planning Look Like After COVID-19?

What will the event planning industry look like once the COVID-19 pandemic is finally over? QC Event School Student Ambassador, Neena McConnell, is here to give her predictions! Neena QC graduate and professional wedding/event planner. As the proud owner of Wallflower Events & Designs, she specializes in event decor, floral design, and so much more! 

How COVID Has Impacted the Event Planning Industry

Over the last year, COVID-19 has drastically impacted many aspects of our lives. And as we’ve seen, the event planning industry has been of no exception. Since the beginning of the global pandemic, the event industry has seen a substantial financial loss, and many vendors and venues have gone out of business. What once were large, in-person events (i.e. conferences, trade shows, weddings, etc.) have now downsized or moved to new, online platforms.

Although this has been a new experience for all of us, event planners are no stranger to change! Over the last year and a half, everyone has been doing their part to make the best of the situations, challenges, and restrictions being thrown our way. Some of these challenges that event planners and their clients have faced over the course of the pandemic include:

• Proper safety planning
• Contract negotiations and securing new vendors
• Postponing events and weddings multiple times
• Adjusting personal ideas and wishes
• Creating multiple backup plans (no longer just rain or shine options)

Adapting to the New Normal

With any challenge, there is always a solution that follows. If there’s one thing an event planner can do well, it’s finding solutions to a problem at hand. For all of the social distancing rules and in-person gathering limitations, event planners have been coming up with innovative ways to continue bringing people together during the pandemic – all while learning how to run their businesses in a new way.

Some of these ways include:

• Virtual meetings and events
• Online venue tours
• Take-out style menus and cake tastings
• Downsizing large events to intimate elopements and micro-weddings

Thanks to the pandemic, we’ve had over a year to navigate through and work with the new (and often changing) policies. As such, we’re not equipped to better help our clients understand and adjust to them as well. Now more than ever, we are planning with purpose; the more detail, the better. Plus, we’re ALWAYS ready to adapt to the situation at hand. In a strange way, the COVID pandemic has pushed us to become even stronger at doing what it is we do best.

Life After COVID: What Event Planning Will Look Like

My Predictions

It’s important to start this section by saying none of the information I’m about to discuss should be considered fact. The future, after all, will always remain a mystery until it’s actually happened. Rather, these are merely my predictions as a professional in the industry.

It is no secret that the event planning industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, life after COVID will undoubtedly look a little different. Firstly, I predict that event vendors will require more financial security upfront, so as not to take as big of a hit in the event of unexpected cancellations. Secondly, I foresee all industry contacts containing a carefully-crafted global pandemic cancellation clause. Next, I believe that we’ll probably see supply and demand issues with flower growers, wholesalers, and event decor distributors. There will also likely be an increase in wedding and event insurance.

Wedding and Event Planning

In terms of weddings and events after COVID-19, I strongly believe that they will maintain their popularity. Moreover, large in-person gatherings will likely become the norm again (if the client’s budget allows for it, of course). That being said, I also believe that there will continue to be some sort of virtual component to weddings and events – even those taking place in-person. Virtual events have skyrocketed in popularity over the last year and a half. Their unique benefits will likely continue to be sought-after, even after COVID-19 is over. For instance, livestreaming to friends/family near and far is just one of the ways clients can now incorporate a larger “guest list” WITHOUT increasing their budget. What’s more – virtual guests will love that they can be included in the big day, regardless of their location, and will be overjoyed to celebrate with your client(s).

It is also my opinion that we will continue to see an increase in intimate events, such as elopements and micro-weddings. Many couples are seeing the benefit of having a smaller wedding! For example, they can allot a larger portion of their budget to other aspects of the day, such as upscale catering, bolder florals, and show-stopping event decor. Elopements and micro-weddings are also extremely appealing to couples who want to share their special day in private, or in the company of a few close friends and/or immediate family members.

Safety Precautions

As for face masks and hand sanitization stations, that will likely depend on the comfort level of the guests attending the event, as well as the clients themselves. Personally, I hope to see a day where face masks are no longer required and social distancing is a thing of the past. However, I do see a lot of value in placing bottles of hand sanitizer around the venue. After going through a global pandemic, it never hurts to remind guests to wash their hands. Plus, it will likely offer peace of mind to all those in attendance.

Why NOW is the Time to Get Your Event Planning Certification

Unfortunately, a lot of small businesses had to close in the past year and many employees had to be let go. But I choose to look for the silver lining… and urge YOU to do the same!

Are you stuck at home and looking for an opportunity to try something new? Have you ever wanted to jump into the event planning industry? Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then I strongly recommend using this time as an opportunity to start something new: pursuing your dream career in event and wedding planning!

QC Event School offers a unique, flexible approach to online learning. You can learn at your own pace, as well as in the comfort of your own home. Moreover, the course tutors are there to offer feedback and advice every step of the way. You also have access to the Virtual Classroom on Facebook. This private group is full of like-minded students and professionals who are all eager to learn and connect!

By completing your certification training at QC Event School, you’ll not only learn how to perfectly plan a wedding and event; you’ll also be prepared to offer emotional support to your clients, bring them back to focus, and discuss appropriate expectations. On top of this, you’ll be armed with the resources needed to educate, as well as understand both vendor contracts and negotiate terms.

Final Thoughts

Weddings and events are not going anywhere! There will always be clients in need of guidance and direction from event planning professionals. With proper training, YOU can be the one they turn to! Plus, you’ll be better equipped to deal with any situation – such as a global pandemic. In my heart, I am convinced that the industry will make a comeback. It’ll just look a little different than what we were used to, that’s all.

As always, I encourage you to leave a comment below and tell me your thoughts. You can also connect with me directly in the Virtual Classroom. Thank you all for reading and I wish you a wonderful day!

Start your professional event planning career in as little as 3-6 months by enrolling with QC Event School today!

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